Football



01511131 23, 1935. MCGALL I 2 62 12535 35 FOOTBALL Filed Oct. 2, 1935 INVENTORV 02%;. BM, Wm v Maw ATTO R N EYS Patented July 23, 1935 PAT FOOTBALL Albert McGall, Orange, N. J.

Application October 2,

5 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a football of improved construction which may be thrown and kicked more accurately and for greater distances than is possible with the ball 5 in use at the present time.

The football now widely used consists of a cover composed of sewn segments of leather or some other durable material, usually lined with some inelastic fabric to prevent distortion, and an inner bag or bladder of rubber. When inflated this ball has the shape of a prolate spheroid. In order to inflate and deflate the ball a valve is aflixed to the bladder and this valve is placed on the side of the ball, on a minor axis. The opening in the cover, through which the bladder and valve is inserted, is reinforced with leather and closed by lacing.

In playing the game of football the ball is usually thrown spirally, i. e. in such a manner as to cause the ball to rotate about its major axis in flight through the air. Also, when punting the ball an effort is made to produce the same result. In both these cases, with the old type ball the weight of the valve and the leather in the reinforcement and lacing is eccentric and unbalanced.

My invention is an improvement on the ball above described in that the inflating valve is placed at the end of the football, on the major axis, and therefore the ball, when thrown or kicked spirally, is dynamically balanced.

In the construction of this improved ball the valve and bladder may be inserted into the cover and the cover closed, by methods known in the art, so as to have unbroken seams. This completely eliminates all unbalance due to the reinforcement and lacing for closure heretofore employed. If desired, however, other methods for closure may be used which will not appreciably unbalance the ball.

My improvement, therefore, lies in placing the heretofore eccentric and unbalanced weight, due to the valve, on the major axis, this axis being the normal axis of rotation, thus producing a ball which in spiral flight will be dynamically balanced.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the ball, in section;

Fig. 2 shows an end view of the ball; and

Fig. 3 a type of valve suitable for the purpose.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the cover is shown at l and the bladder at 2. The major and minor axes are indicated by A and. B, respectively. The inflating valve is shown at 3, and the short tube, into which the inflating needle is inserted, at 4.

1933, Serial No. 691,744

In Fig. 2 corresponding partsare indicated by the same numerals.

The valve shown in Fig. 3 is constructed entirely of rubber. The valve is fastened to the cover by the portion shown at 3, and 4 is the short inflating tube. 5 indicates two legs of rubber which are bound together at 6, being so molded as to leave an open space at 1.

When the ball is to be inflated a hollow needle, 8, is inserted and air under pressure is admitted until the proper degree of inflation is obtained. Upon withdrawing the needle the legs, 5, press together and close the opening, thus making the bladder air tight.

As a result of these improvements a ball is provided which may be thrown and kicked more accurately and for greater distances than has been possible with the ball as heretofore constructed.

I claim:

1. An inflatable game ball having, when inflated, substantially the shape of a prolate spheroid, and an inflating valve within said ball and. affixed thereto, said valve being at and symmetrically arranged about one end of the major axis of the spheroid.

2. A football comprising a substantially nondistensible outer casing, said casing being so formed as to assume the shape of a prolate spheroid, an inflatable bladder within said casing and. enclosed thereby, said bladder being formed so as to assume a substantially prolate spheroidal shape when inflated within said casing, a valve aflixed to said bladder at one end thereof, said valve when the bladder is fully inflated being disposed symmetrically about one end of the major axis of the spheroid, whereby the ball in flight may rotate about its major axis substantially in dynamic balance.

3. A football comprising a substantially nondistensible outer casing, said casing being so formed as to assume the shape of a prolate spheroid, an inflatable bladder within said casing and enclosed thereby, said bladder being formed so as to assume a substantially prolate spheroidal shape when inflated within said casing, a valve aflixed to said bladder at one end thereof, an inflating tube associated with said valve arranged to protrude only to the outer surface of said casing, said valve and tube when the bladder is fully inflated being disposed symmetrically about one end of the major axis of the spheroid, whereby the ball in flight may rotate about its major axis substantially in dynamic balance.

4. A football comprising a substantially nondistensible outer casing composed of sewn segments, said casing having continuous sewn seams along the segments thereof and being so formed as to assume substantially the shape of a prolate spheroid, an inflatable bladder within said casing and enclosed thereby, said bladder being formed so as to assume a substantially prolate spheroidal shape when inflated within said casing, a valve affixed to said bladder at one end thereof, said valve when the bladder is fully inflated being disposed symmetrically about one end of the major axis of the spheroid, whereby the ball in flight may rotate about its major axis substantially in dynamic balance.

5. An inflatable game ball having, when inflated, substantially the shape of a prolate spheroid, and an inflating valve Within said ball and aflixed thereto, said valve being positioned at one end of the major axis of the spheroid.

ALBERT MCGALL. 

